27 October 2016 – Environmental pollution is adding “complexity and danger” to the humanitarian crisis sparked by the military offensive in Mosul, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) said today, warning that fumes from burning stockpiles of sulphur dioxide, and oil wells that have been set ablaze, have led to further suffering for civilians in northern Iraq.

Some civilians are experiencing near-suffocation and respiratory illnesses due to what UNEP calls the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh) “scorched earth policy” as they retreat from the Iraqi city.

Armed groups set 19 oil wells on fire near Al Qayyarah, a town just southeast of Mosul. As a result, citizens and armed forces have been exposed to toxic fumes. The burning crude oil is releasing a wide range of pollutants, including soot and gases that cause skin irritation and shortness of breath.

Together with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), UNEP connected responders and hazardous materials experts, who provided technical assistance in dealing with the fire.

On 23 October, a chlorine gas leak originated from a water plant affected by the fighting, for which some 100 civilians sought medical treatment.

And, last week, a toxic cloud plume spread for dozens of kilometres after stockpiles of sulphur dioxide stored at the Mishraq Sulphate Factory caught fire. The Directorate of Health, with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO), treated more than 1,000 cases of suffocation in Qayyarah, Ijhala, and Makhmour.

A young internally displaced Iraqi girl stands on a dusty path at the edge of Debaga camp, near Mosul in northern Iraq. Smoke from oil fires can be seen in the background. Photo: UNHCR/Ivor Prickett

“This is sadly just the latest episode in what has been the wholesale destruction of Iraq’s environment over several decades – from draining of the marshlands to the contamination of land and the collapse of environmental management systems,” said UN Environment chief Erik Solheim in a press release.

UNEP is working closely with partners in Iraq such as OCHA, WHO, the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the UN Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT) to respond to the urgency of environmental damage from armed conflict. UNOSAT has provided support in mapping smoke plumes during the offensive, which can help minimize harmful impacts of chemical hazards during the humanitarian response.

But Mr. Solheim warned that “this ongoing ecocide is a recipe for a prolonged disaster. It makes living conditions dangerous and miserable, if not impossible. It will push countless people to join the unprecedented global refugee population. That’s why the environment needs to be placed at the centre of crisis response, conflict prevention, and conflict resolution.”

In all this, UNEP recalls that UN General Assembly’s 1992 resolution on ‘Protection of the environment in times of armed conflict’ (A/RES/47/37) urges States to take all measures to ensure compliance with existing international law to protect the environment during armed conflict.

Additional resolutions holding Member States accountable are the text that declared International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict (6 November) and the recent resolution adopted by the Environment Assembly, ‘Protection of the environment in areas affected by armed conflict’, which emphasizes UNEP’s role in supporting Member States throughout these challenges.

UNEP will continue to address the environmental health impacts that are part of humanitarian action and crisis responses during the 2017 Environment and Emergencies Forum to take place in Nairobi next June.

Thu, Oct 27, 2016
– 19 oil wells have been set ablaze following the launch of military operations to retake the city of Mosul from Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)
– Burning stockpiles of sulphur dioxide at an industrial facility created a large toxic cloud and temporarily hampered the delivery of humanitarian assistance
– Water plant also reportedly affected by fighting, leading to a chlorine gas leak
– Environmental pollution is adding complexity and danger to the humanitarian crisis

27 October 2016 – Civilians in Northern Iraq are falling victim to additional suffering – including near suffocation and respiratory illnesses – due to what appears to be a scorched-earth policy employed by retreating ISIL militants following the launch of a major military offensive to retake the city of Mosul.

Nineteen oil wells have been set ablaze by armed groups near Al Qayyarah, located south-east of Mosul, with citizens and armed forces exposed to toxic fumes. The burning crude oil produces a wide range of pollutants, including soot and gases that cause health problems such as skin irritation and shortness of breath.

Late last week, stockpiles of sulphur dioxide stored at the Mishraq Sulphate Factory caught fire, leading to a large toxic cloud plume spreading over dozens of kilometres. The Directorate of Health, supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), treated over 1000 cases of suffocation in Qayyarah, Ijhala, and Makhmour primary health care centres.

UN Environment, through the Joint Environment Unit it runs with the UN Office for the Coordination Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), put responders in touch with hazardous materials experts, who provided technical advice on dealing with the fire. On 23 October a water plant was reportedly affected by fighting, leading to a chlorine gas leak for which around 100 civilians sought medical treatment.

“This is sadly just the latest episode in what has been the wholesale destruction of Iraq’s environment over several decades – from the draining of the marshlands to the contamination of land and the collapse of environmental management systems,” said UN Environment chief Erik Solheim.

“This ongoing ecocide is a recipe for a prolonged disaster. It makes living conditions dangerous and miserable, if not impossible. It will push countless people to join the unprecedented global refugee population. That’s why the environment needs to be placed at the centre of crisis response, conflict prevention and conflict resolution.”

Minimizing the damage to environment from armed conflict remains a priority for UN Environment. The organization is working closely with partners in Iraq like OCHA, WHO, the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the UN Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT) – which has provided support to mapping smoke plumes during the offensive to minimize harmful impacts of chemical hazards in humanitarian response.

The events highlight the need to prepare for environmental health impacts as part of humanitarian action and crisis response, a topic UN Environment will continue working on – including at the 2017 Environment and Emergencies Forum taking place in Nairobi next June.

Member states and non-state actors need to take all measures to comply with existing international law on the protection of the environment in times of armed conflict, a responsibility highlighted in a number of UN and UN Environment resolutions. The General Assembly “Protection of the environment in times of armed conflict” (A/RES/47/37), urges States to take all measures to ensure compliance with existing international law applicable to the protection of the environment in times of armed conflict, with the General Assembly resolution “Observance of the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict” (A/RES/56/4) also noting the importance of this topic. Most recently, the UN Environment Assembly adopted the resolution “Protection of the environment in areas affected by armed conflict” (UNEP/EA.2/Res.15), highlighting the role of UN Environment to support Member States in addressing these challenges.